Hi
I build my cues on a 30" laminated maple dowel.
When I broke form the A Joint method here is some of reasons why I prefer my full core method. Nothing bad to say about A Joint method but I believe it requires a lot more effort and planning details to avoid the W word.
I took many species of turning blanks and leaned them against an outside wall in the Chicago area breaking all rules on purpose. No temperature or humidity control in the shop using both kiln dried and blanks that were waxed. I built about 25 cored cues in a two year period. At that time I was building cues for free for my customers, friends and employees at my Billiards Cafe.
That being said, my pool hall was an incubator for me to observe my cues over time. Since this wood was handled improperly up against an outside wall with outside temp variance between -5 to 105 degrees F with no temp or humidity control in the shop only normal heat and aircon.
I built about 60 cues in my first 3 years. 25 were A joint type and 35 full core version, the score was 2 A joint cues showing a bump between centers and all full core cues stayed straight. Remember I was a rookie so take this info with a grain of salt. Still the fact remains, all the cored cues did not warp and I observed them for many years after building them.
I have continued to build my cues on a dowel ever since and developed my half splice point cue method on the dowel. When you build your cues on a dowel your concentricity is never a question. Example: I cut my V Grooves on my blank when the nose is at .960 after establishing the taper. After glueing in the points and taper turning, I never have to slim and adjust the point geometry all the way down to .850. Never.
So in the final analysis, if you build A Joint cues the truth of matter is that A Joint cues have two pieces of wood joined. If one of those two pieces of wood moves you get a warped cue. That being said, if you control the temperature and humidity to treat the wood properly, hold perfect concentricity during construction joinery with machines that can do that job with repeatability, A Joint cues can be trusted to be and stay straight if you take cuts on the wood and cull problematic pieces out before building.
JMO,
Rick
